CNN Column: Donald Trump's totally unpresidential fight over the death of an American soldier

CNN ^ | 10/17/2017 | Chris Cillizza

[SeekAndFind]

President Donald Trump's phone call Tuesday to the widow of a soldier killed in action in Niger has, somehow, turned into a she said/he said situation.

The "she" is Florida Democratic Rep. Frederica Wilson who said she was present when Trump called the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson and allegedly told her of her late husband "he knew what he signed up for, but I guess it still hurt."

The "he" is Trump, who tweeted this morning that "Democrat Congresswoman totally fabricated what I said to the wife of a soldier who died in action (and I have proof). Sad!"

What we now have is this: The President of the United States in a war of words with a Democratic congresswoman -- and, by extension, the widow of a fallen soldier -- over what he said when he called her to offer his condolences after the death of her husband. And both Trump and Wilson are alleging they have "proof" that the other is lying.

This is not the normal course of affairs in a White House -- or, frankly, any level of politics. It speaks -- yet again -- to how Trump has fundamentally altered the way in which a president acts in public or in private.

Doubt it? Ask yourself whether you can imagine either Barack Obama or George W. Bush (or any president) openly feuding about whether he told a grieving widow of an American soldier killed in action that "he knew what he signed up for." It is, quite literally, unimaginable.

For those who are taking Trump's side in all of this -- alleging that Wilson is simply trying to score political points against a president the Democratic base hates -- it's important to remember a few things we know about Trump.

[drpix]

"...whether you can imagine either Barack Obama or George W. Bush (or any president) feuding..." with family of an American soldier killed in action.

The leftwing media's memory hole is not operating as well as they've expected. The following are but a few of many more about the media's long "imagined" president, on yet another part of her history they would have you forget:

"Hillary Clintons Benghazi Lies: Pat Smith Charles Woods"

"Watch Clinton Call The Mother Of A Benghazi Victim A Liar"

"Benghazi Victim's Father: Clinton Lied 'to Myself And to Other Family Members'""

[AndyTheBear]

What we now have is this: The President of the United States in a war of words with a Democratic congresswoman -- and, by extension, the widow of a fallen soldier -- over what he said when he called her to offer his condolences after the death of her husband. And both Trump and Wilson are alleging they have "proof" that the other is lying.

A person is accused of something and they defend themselves by claiming they can prove they are innocent.

Obviously the question is whether or not the accused really can demonstrate their innocence.

But no, not to the Leftwing nuts pretending to be journalists. For them the question is how they can spin this to be the fault of the accused independent of whether or not they are innocent.

[Verginius Rufus]

It would be easy enough to resolve. Get Obama to release the recording of the conversation.

But of course he won't do anything to help Trump.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Trump probably said something along the lines of “he was a brave patriot who knew he was risking his life for his country” and the racist Wilson decided to make a smear of it.